Source-backed decision research

Explore how AAO evaluates evidence.

Search a substantial collection of case-specific reasoning, then narrow it by petition, field, legal issue, or date.

This expanded collection favors source-backed access over perfect automated classification. Fields, labels, summaries, and relevance may contain errors; records marked ‘broader context’ need extra care. Review the cited source before relying on any record. These appeals and motions do not show approval odds or denial rates, and are not legal advice or a prediction.

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10,847 decisions / 36,849 findings

Showing 24361–24370

EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner established a leading or critical role at the Academic Theatre of Operetta but failed to demonstrate that theater has a distinguished reputation. The evidence for the philharmonic and regional theatre failed to establish a leading or critical role or a distinguished reputation. Additionally, the regulation requires a leading or critical role in more than one organization.

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The petitioner established a leading or critical role at the Academic Theatre of Operetta but failed to demonstrate that theater has a distinguished reputation. The evidence for the philharmonic and regional theatre failed to establish a leading or critical role or a distinguished reputation. Additionally, the regulation requires a leading or critical role in more than one organization.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-07-29_01_B2203; source_row=13066
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material

Why AAO was not persuaded

Most of the articles were about the shows rather than about the petitioner. The one article about the petitioner failed to demonstrate the publication qualifies as major media. Even if that article qualified, the regulation requires published material in more than one publication.

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Most of the articles were about the shows rather than about the petitioner. The one article about the petitioner failed to demonstrate the publication qualifies as major media. Even if that article qualified, the regulation requires published material in more than one publication.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-07-29_01_B2203; source_row=13062
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other12 reviews

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role

Why AAO was not persuaded

Petitioner abandoned claims regarding roles at universities. For the research institute, petitioner failed to demonstrate his role was leading or critical to the organization as a whole, failed to provide organizational chart or comparative evidence, and failed to submit independent objective evidence of distinguished reputation.…

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Petitioner abandoned claims regarding roles at universities. For the research institute, petitioner failed to demonstrate his role was leading or critical to the organization as a whole, failed to provide organizational chart or comparative evidence, and failed to submit independent objective evidence of distinguished reputation. Additionally, the plural language of the regulation requires leading/critical roles at more than one organization.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-07-29_02_B2203; source_row=13077
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other12 reviews

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

Petitioner only met two of three required criteria, so the final merits determination was not strictly required. Nonetheless, the petitioner's judging was routine, his publication record was modest compared to references, citation evidence was insufficient, and letters failed to show sustained national or international acclaim placing him at the very top of his field.

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Petitioner only met two of three required criteria, so the final merits determination was not strictly required. Nonetheless, the petitioner's judging was routine, his publication record was modest compared to references, citation evidence was insufficient, and letters failed to show sustained national or international acclaim placing him at the very top of his field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-07-29_02_B2203; source_row=13078
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other12 reviews

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner's citation evidence was unsupported by actual documentary evidence from citation databases. Conference presentations did not demonstrate major significance. Recommendation letters made general or speculative statements about future impact rather than demonstrating present major significance. The AAO found evidence of original contributions but not of major significance.

Why this is useful

Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.

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The petitioner's citation evidence was unsupported by actual documentary evidence from citation databases. Conference presentations did not demonstrate major significance. Recommendation letters made general or speculative statements about future impact rather than demonstrating present major significance. The AAO found evidence of original contributions but not of major significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-07-29_02_B2203; source_row=13075
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

national interest substantially greater than U.S. worker with minimum qualifications

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that the petitioner failed to provide objective evidence of his influence on the broader field. His citation record was minimal (four total citations over 15 years, largely by a co-author), virtually all witness letters came from current or former colleagues, and witnesses' assertions of broad influence went uncorroborated by any independent documentary evidence.…

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See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.

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The AAO found that the petitioner failed to provide objective evidence of his influence on the broader field. His citation record was minimal (four total citations over 15 years, largely by a co-author), virtually all witness letters came from current or former colleagues, and witnesses' assertions of broad influence went uncorroborated by any independent documentary evidence. The AAO also rejected the labor-shortage argument as a basis for waiving the labor certification process.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-07-29_01_B5203; source_row=13072
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Ability to pay the proffered wage as sole proprietor

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO affirmed the director, finding that even using only the known household expenses, the adjusted gross income in 2007 is insufficient to cover the fully burdened proffered wage ($34,944) and the sole proprietor's personal expenses for a family of seven, leaving a deficit.…

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AAO affirmed the director, finding that even using only the known household expenses, the adjusted gross income in 2007 is insufficient to cover the fully burdened proffered wage ($34,944) and the sole proprietor's personal expenses for a family of seven, leaving a deficit. Additionally, the petitioner provided no documentation that it was already paying the beneficiary the proffered wage, and failed to submit complete household expense information despite the RFE.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-07-29_03_B2203; source_row=13079
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

What the decision said

Counsel did not contest the director's decision or offer additional arguments on this criterion, so AAO considered the issue abandoned.

Why this is useful

Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.

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Counsel did not contest the director's decision or offer additional arguments on this criterion, so AAO considered the issue abandoned.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-07-29_01_B2203; source_row=13064
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO agreed with the director that background materials establish the intrinsic merit of the petitioner's work in petroleum geology.

Why this is useful

Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

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The AAO agreed with the director that background materials establish the intrinsic merit of the petitioner's work in petroleum geology.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-07-29_01_B5203; source_row=13070
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO agreed with the director that background materials establish the national scope of the petitioner's work.

Why this is useful

Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.

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The AAO agreed with the director that background materials establish the national scope of the petitioner's work.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-07-29_01_B5203; source_row=13071
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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